The Gilmer Bobcats were at home for a nonregion soccer match before hitting the road to continue their region slate.
First up were the Union County Panthers Wednesday. GHS celebrated its senior players as all got on the field, and by game’s end, the score was even for a 0-0 draw.
Gilmer made its way to East Forsyth High School Friday to take on the Broncos. The score was tied once more at the end of regulation, and after overtime and penalty kicks, EFHS won, 4-3.
Sixteen seniors were recognized ahead of the Union match. The Panthers were on the attack once the match got underway, but had little to show for their efforts in the first half as seven of eight shots were off target.
Gilmer’s offensive opportunities were limited, and none of its three shots crossed the goal line. The game got increasingly physical in the second half, and Union received a yellow card with 20 minutes to play.
Neither team was able to break the tie over the remainder of the half.
“Some of those boys have been with us for all four years and it is never easy losing that many players,” said head coach Simon Phipps. “We had a lot of seniors, and they all got the chance to be on the field at some point. This obviously broke up our normal method of play, and it is difficult to be consistent and stick to a plan when you make that many changes to the personnel and formation.
“Union has always had a good soccer program, and they always put a good team on the field. We knew it would be a tough game because they have played very similar teams to us and their results are almost the same.”
Connor Seim got GHS going after 20 minutes of play versus East Forsyth when he headed home a free kick from Domingo Reynoso Loarca. The Broncos evened the match 10 minutes later, and the score remained 1-1 at the end of regulation.
Neither team scored in either of the two ensuing 10-minute overtime periods. The match then when to penalty kicks. Bobcats Julien Withrow, Nick Dean and Seim each made one for GHS, but the Broncos netted four to claim the win.
“I think that our results speak for themselves. The games we have lost in the region have been very close, and we are playing extremely well and not conceding a lot of goals, thanks to our defense and goalkeeper,” Phipps said. “We still have three region games to go and I believe that if we can play the way we have been playing we will still make playoffs.
“None of these games will be easy, but I think we have the players to make a run at it, and if results go our way, we should make the playoffs.”
GHS is 6-4-1 and 2-2 versus region opponents. Gilmer hosts Dawson Wednesday and North Hall Friday. Both matches are set to start at 7 p.m.